Thursday, June 09, 2011

APTA Members Gather for PT Day on Capitol Hill

Sens Jon Tester (D-MT) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) addressed approximately 1,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy on Capitol Hill today as they rallied in support of legislation to increase patient access to rehabilitative care.

Tester and Wicker, sponsors of the Physical Therapist Student Loan Repayment Eligibility Act (S 975), spoke about the importance of adding physical therapist to National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program and recruiting them to rural and underserved areas.

Following the event, rally participants met with their members of Congress to ask them to support S 975 and the House's companion bill HR 1426. They also advocated for the Medicare Access to Rehabilitation Services Act (HR 1546/S 829), legislation that would repeal the cap on outpatient rehabilitative services for Medicare beneficiaries, and the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act (HR 469). HR 469 includes physical therapists in the multidisciplinary team of licensed health care providers that is qualified to evaluate and manage patients with concussions.

Look for more rally coverage in tomorrow's PT 2011Daily News and on www.apta.org.

APTA members gather for today's rally.

APTA President Scott Ward, PT, PhD, welcomes participants.

Sen Jon Tester (D-MT) told the crowd, "The work that you’re going to do today is critically important."

Sen Roger Wicker (R-MS) spoke about the "huge wave" of baby boomers who are going to need physical therapy.

Comments

It is great to see our profession working together for the better good of our profession.

Posted by melanie weis
on 6/10/2011 2:13 PM

An amazing experience! This was my first PT Day on Capitol Hill and I am so happy to have had the chance to participate!

Posted by Ann Lowrey
on 6/13/2011 7:49 AM

Thank you to all who organized the PT Day on Capitol Hill. Well done! This was my first in our nation's capital. A great experience shared with fellow PTs/PTAs/and students from all over the country. I look forward to next year. Let's shoot for another 1000 plus!
Becky